Never Give up!

 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time: October 16, 2022

Readings: Exodus 17:8-13; Psalm 121:1-8; 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2; Luke 18:1-8

 (Image: Aaron and Hur standing on each side of Moses)
To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/BGev4klQx2o

Persistence, perseverance and patience are the three magical words that help us to do marvels in our lives. Life is tough but with our efforts and God’s help, we can make our life possible. A certain amount of energy and resilience, we must instill within us in spite of the odds and adversaries that we encounter in every day of our lives. To keep up with the phase of our lives, we must encourage ourselves. In a world of evil and jealousy, what must keep us going is our deep faith in the Lord and our own convictions and values that we hold dear to us. The liturgical readings on this 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time invite us to cultivate within us those qualities of faith, convictions, values, persistence, perseverance and patience to make our life fascinating, interesting and enjoyable one.

1. Don’t give up when others are unwilling

In the Gospel reading of today (Luke 18:1-8), the widow follows a simple procedure that is not to give up on her desire to get justice from the lazy and unjust judge - who neither feared God nor respected any human being. Probably the sense of pride must have overtaken him from being what he is supposed to be and doing. He seems to have believed in himself. Therefore "he cared for no one". In other words,  he had no fear of God or respect for humanity. Certainly, he was not a good man. In fact, he believed in his self-sufficiency and arrogance. He must have made enough wealth for himself and his family. Hence he had no need of anyone’s benevolence and kindness. Moreover, his intentions toward justice were distorted as a judge. A judge must deliver justice and especially for those poor and marginalized. Moreover, he must have special care and concern to them as they would not be able to fund a good lawyer to defend them.

Jesus praises the poor widow, who is seeking justice from the reckless judge. She does so with a lot of patience and persistence, perseverance and repeated requests in prayer. In fact, her way of dealing brings her justice as well. She does not give up. In place of the arrogance of the judge, the widow’s courage and compelling spirit give her victory. Jesus through this parable teaches his disciples that their approach should be that of a widow- patience and perseverance as well a spirit of never-give-up faith and convictions. She is strong, courageous, purposeful and focused, indeed.

2. Fighting and keeping faith until the finish

Jesus looks at the widow’s power of never-give-up spirit and unbridled resilience to seek justice from the hard-hearted judge as a symbol of her deep faith in God. A Jewish widow had no place in its culture and community. In fact, the widowed woman is almost dead to society. She had no rights and privileges, social status or position in society. She could not participate in public functions and in open celebrations. Such a person not only has to overcome societal restrictions but also that idiot judge who cared about no one. She faces opposition and injustice from godless and pitiless adversary.

This courageous widow becomes a symbol of imitation for others and especially for those widows and other marginalized and neglected sections of society. She is a powerful expression of God’s compassion and His readiness to instill in such people energy and faith to fight for justice and a due place in society. She not only fights with the judge for justice but also with a society which denies basic human rights to live. Her condition is not different from the widows in our society including Christian ones. Why is that widow should not wear flowers on her head? Why can't a widow lead her son or daughter to the altar at the wedding nuptials? Why can't a widow apply madarangi or rose - in Konkani culture - at the pre-nuptial ceremony? We must ask these critical questions and rectify the injustice that is done to the widows in our communities and societies. 

3. Keep knocking until opens

It is said that man proposes and God disposes of. God knows us, our needs and dreams, desires and aspirations. He gives us what is necessary at the right time. Often we complain about God that He is not listening. We also see sometimes no meaning in our suffering, be it physical, mental, spiritual or psychological. We say that if God knows us, created us and loves us why does he send all these sufferings, ailments and illnesses. Why should God has to wait to tell me until the last stage that I have such a terminal illness, and now I cannot do anything more? Why God has been so carefree in protecting me from such a horrific accident or such a person from harassing me or abusing me? Where was my God when I was so down and lost because I made such bad decisions for my spouse or child or myself? Such questions come to us without any intervals when we are in dire need of healing, protection and courage. It is natural to get such thoughts and hopeless streams and trains of thought.

Scriptural readings assure us that we must not be carried away by the pains and struggles of life. In early life, Israelites on the way to the liberated land had to face so many hurdles, especially the life-threatening attacks by the rulers around them. However, Moses and Joshua even though untrained in military campaigns win over because of Moses’s persistence prayer and courage. He is pleading to God for a victory against the Amalek with unstoppable prayers and petitions by raising both of his hands to the heavens (Exodus 17:8-13). This zealous Moses towards the end of the day has no more energy to keep both of his hands raised. His helpers Aaron and Hur devise various ways to keep his hands raised because their victory was assured as long as Moses prays incessantly and continuously with raised hands. 

God guards us from all evil. We must remain faithful and need to turn to the scriptures to get strength. The widow is an example for us to pray with resolve, and to keep on pestering God who is the eternal just Judge. Even if we get tired of asking the same thing over and over again, persistence is key. St Ignatius of Loyola in the Spiritual Exercises tells the retreatant of how one should begin to pray.  He asks that we must “Ask God our Lord for what I want and desire”  [No. 48].  Asking earnestly for grace and being attentive is nothing but a positive desire that helps me to listen more deeply to my God.  Thus we are able to be righteous and first, fight for our own rights and secondly, for the rights of others.

Questions for Reflection:

1. How do you imagine Moses with both his hands raised to heaven the whole day?
2. Moses is a man of team spirit. How do you look at yourself as a leader?
3. Has leading been your calling? Are you able to delegate, and allow others to step in?
4. How do you get the strength and support of God in your life and in the world around you?
5. Are you ready to resemble the poor widow in her struggle for justice?

Prayer:

O Lord, You who made heaven and earth is our help. The Lord is our guardian, our shade. He is beside us at our right hand. The Lord guards us from all evil; He knows our coming and our going both now and forever.

Lord Jesus, your love and mercy know no bounds. Give us strength when we are weak, hope when we are discouraged, peace when we are troubled, consolation when we are sad, comfort when we suffer, and understanding when we are perplexed. Above all, guide us and forgive us when we err. Direct us in your way and make us an instrument of your love and peace to those who are troubled and without hope. We make this prayer in Jesus' Holy Name, Amen.

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

14 October 2022